Peugeot 208 WRX targeting third straight win in Canada

With previous wins at Trois Rivières to its name in 2015 and 2016, Team Peugeot Hansen has its sights set high once again for Round 8 of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship’s in Canada on 5th-6th August.

Since the WRX’s last clash in Sweden, Sébastien Loeb has taken part in the Silk Way Rally driving the brand-new Peugeot DKR Maxi. After a few days’ rest and having recovered from an injury sustained to his left hand, the Frenchman is ready to bounce back at Trois Rivières at the wheel of his Peugeot 208 WRX 2017.

Team Peugeot Hansen recently organised a busy test in Riga, Latvia, with Timmy Hansen in the development PEUGEOT 208 WRX. A number of improvements were evaluated and they will be carried over to the team’s championship cars soon.

During the four-week break since Sweden,Timmy, Kevin and Kenneth all took part in an endurance race at a Rencontres Peugeot Sport meeting at Magny-Cours, France. Their mount was a 208 Racing Cup and they thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

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Kenneth Hansen (Team Principal):“Trois Rivières calls for high top speeds and I am sure our car is capable of finishing on the podium, perhaps even on the top step. Rallycross is a sport where anything can happen, as we proved in Canada last year when Timmy won the final after starting from the back of the grid!”

Sébastien Loeb (PEUGEOT 208 WRX #9):“I’ve just got back from the Silk Way Rally, so Trois Rivières is going to be very different to what I’ve been up to these past few weeks! I enjoyed my trip to Trois Rivières last season. The atmosphere is great and the track is different to the rest of the championship. The walls mean you can’t make too many mistakes, though, so we will endeavour to be as clean and smooth as possible and then give it our very best shot in the final.”

Timmy Hansen (PEUGEOT 208 WRX #21):“I love Trois Rivières. It’s not a permanent track but the organisers do a tremendous job to create a venue that produces some great racing. The dirt and asphalt portions flow nicely and the jump is fun, so they’ve put together a good combination. Two years ago, I was pretty competitive but the victory went to my then team-mate. Last year, I was less on the pace but I ended up winning! I can’t wait to see what this year’s meeting has in store for me.”

Kevin Hansen (PEUGEOT 208 WRX #71):“This will be my first time out at Trois Rivières in a Supercar but I have previous experience of the track in the RX Light class in 2015. This time, I will have the car that won here last year so I intend to make the most of its potential through the circuit’s more technical portions. I’m looking forward to competing in Canada again. It wasn’t on my programme in 2016 but I did some TV commentary work during the RX2 race.”

THE CIRCUIT – TROIS RIVIÈRES

Length: 1.351km

Asphalt / dirt: 59% / 41%

Lap record: 47.4141s (Timerzianov)

TIMETABLE

Saturday, August 5

9:15am: Free Practice

2:00pm: Qualifying 1

4:30pm: Qualifying 2

Sunday, August 8

9:30am: Qualifying 3

11:15am: Qualifying 4

3:00pm: semi-finals and final

TEAM PEUGEOT HANSEN WEB-SERIESFollow Sébastien Loeb’s travels in Sweden behind the wheel of his Peugeot 208 WRX and his camper van! To watch, click here.